Beading machine



Aug. 4, 1959 R. A. MAYNE BEADING MACHINE Filed April 25. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. MAYNE ATTORNEYS R. A. MAYNE BEADING MACHINE Aug. 4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25. 1955 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. MAYNE BY W 1 ATTORNEYS R. A. MAYNE BEADING MACHINE Aug. 4, 1959 Filed April 25. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. MAYNE BY 2 6 I ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1959 R. A. MAYNE 2,897,873

BEADING MACHINE Filed April 25. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g FIG-l8 146 0 FIG-IO FIG-ll r a INVENTOR. F|G ROBERT A. MAYNE BY Q 3 I6! 82 1/0 ATTORNEYS 2,897,873 READING MACHINE Robert A. Mayne, Dayton, Ohio Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,420

14 Claims. (Cl. 153-59) This invention relates to a metal forming machine and more particularly to a machine adapted for forming beads on the margins of a blower wheel, although not necessary so limited, in that the same machine may be used for forming beads on other devices.

In the manufacture of blower wheels ofthe type disclosed in the Mayne et al. United States Letters Patent No. 2,431,647, issued November 25, 1947 for Centrifugal Fan, the forming of a bead on the strips along each of the margins of the blades where the blades have been struck out of a sheet of metal, two convolutions being used so as to provide proper spacing of the blower blades, has presented a problem. Part of this problem is due to the fact that only a very narrow neck portion connects theblower blade to the marginal strip, so that in attempting to form a bead on the margin, these narrow necks are insufficient to support the force exerted against the margin to curve both of the marginal strips, in that each margin consists of two layers of sheet metal.

An object of this invention is to provide a support engaging a narrow portion of the margin extending between the necks of the blades and the portion that is formed into a bead. This has been accomplished by providing a plurality of arcuate sectors, each integral with an inwardly directed radial stem portion engaging a conical member, so that as the conical member is moved axially, the conical member engages the stems so as to force the arcuate sectors outwardly into engagement with the marginal portions of the blower wheel, expanding these marginal portions so as to stretch the outer marginal portion that originally has an identical length to the inner marginal portion and to thereby cause the marginal portions to lie in true cylindrical surfaces. As the outer edge of the marginal portion is acted upon by a roller forming a bead, the sectors help the blades in supporting the force exerted by the rollers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for forming beads on the margins of a blower wheel, the beads being formed on the opposite margins of the blower wheel simultaneously, each of the margins being stretched and held while the head is formed, so as to prevent the force exerted by the device forming the beads from collapsing the neck portions connecting the blades to the margins of the blower wheel. This has been accomplished by beading both margins simultaneously and providing means for expanding both margins simultaneously while the bead is being formed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for aligning the ends of the blades and simultaneously expanding the margins and forming beads on the margins, so that as the wheel is removed after the bead has been formed, the margins and the blades form a substantially true cylindrical blower wheelwith all the blades equally spaced and each blade having the proper angular relation with respect to an adjacent tangent to the blower wheel.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction 7 of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of opera Cir 2 tion, as will become more apparent from the following description. i

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the beading machine forming my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of two stampings used in forming the blower wheel.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of onehalf of the heading machine, with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a finished blower wheel.

Figure 5 discloses a plate member provided with arcuate marginal notches, only a few of which have been shown, used in aligning the blades of the blower wheel.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary edge view of the plate shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an edge View of the plate shown in Figure 5 as it appears before the grooves and the bevelled areas in association with the grooves have been milled into the margins of the plate.

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a part of the supporting structure for the expansion mechanism.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a spacer member.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 12 is a front elevational view of the expansion mechanism.

Figure 13 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of a disc used in supporting the rollers for forming -the beads.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the disc shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a front elevational view of a roller used in forming the bead.

Figure 17 discloses a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 18 is an enlarged view of one-half of the roller drawn to a larger scale than that disclosed in Figures 16 and 17.

Figure 19 is a cross sectional view of a blower wheel support and expanding mechanism.

Before describing the heading machine, a brief description will be made of a blower wheel that is to be provided with marginalbeads. As may best be seen by referring to Figure 2, the blower wheel is made from two stampings 20 and 22. These stampings are provided with a plurality of arcuately-shaped blades 24. After the stampings have been made, the two stampings 20 and 22 are superimposed upon each other, as shown in this figure, with alternate blades being integral with one of the stampings and the remaining blades integral with the other stamping. The margins of these two stampings are then spot welded at close intervals.

After the margins have been spot welded, the assembly is then curved into a cylindrical formation with theblades directed inwardly. The ends of the convolutions are welded together. The two margins 26 and 28 consist of two layers of sheet metal. Each of these margins is to be formed into a bead 30, as best seen in Figure 4. After this has been done, a center disc 32 is mounted in the center of the wheel. In view of the fact that this center disc forms no part of this invention, the description thereof will not now be made. This center disc, however, is more fully disclosed in the Mayne et al. application Serial No. 385,526, filed October 12, 1953, for Blower Rotor and Method of Making Same. The proper alignment of the blades and the forming of the bead is accomplished by the machine which will now be described.

The reference character 40 indicates a base having'adjustably mounted thereon a pair of frame members 42. These frame members may be connected to the base by means of a dovetailed slot arrangement, so as to permit two frames to be adjusted toward and away from each other. The frames are locked in position by means of bolts 43, only one of which is shown. When the frames have been adjusted so as to be properly spaced from each other, the bolts 43 are "then tightened, so as to lock the frames in position upon the base 40.

Only 'one of the frames and the component parts mounted thereon will be described, in that the two frames and the parts mounted thereon are substantially identical, with the exception that one may be referred to as the left hand frame and the other as the right hand frame. The right hand frame will be described, for the reason that this is shown in cross section in Figure 3.

As may be readily seen by referring to this figure, the base has upwardly directed extensions 46 and 4-8 located 'at opposite ends thereof. A reenforcing plate 49, mounted to the rear of the machine, spans the distance between. the extensions 46 and 48. Most of the operating mechanism is mounted upon these extensions.

A shaft 50 that is non-rotatably mounted and having an axial movement is mounted in a bearing 52 secured to the upwardly directed extension 46 'bymeans of bolts 44-. This shaft 50 is mounted in a tubular sleeve'60, also nonrotatably mounted and having an axial movement in a bearing 62, fixedly mounted in a cylindrical boss 64 integral with the upwardly directed extension 48 of the frame '42. The tubular sleeve 60 is provided with a key way 66 having a key 68 seated in a key seat in the shaft 50. The sleeve 60 is prevented from rotation by means of a set screw 72, having its inner reduced end projecting into a key way or key slot 74 in the tubular sleeve 60.

One of the functions of the machine is to properly space the blower blades 24. Although the blower blades are stamped uniformly, so as to be equally spaced on the two convolutions 20 and 22, in stamping the metal the blades are formed to a proper curvature and, theoretically, are uniformly projected from the surface of the sheet metal from which the stamping is made. However, due to the variations in the manufactureof the metal, both the curvature and the angular relation of the blades to the marginal strips may not always be uniform. There may be a slight variation. That being the case, a pair of plates 80, one for each margin, is provided with arcuate slots 82, each subtended by a bevelled portion 84, the bevelled portions guiding the end of the blade into the slot as the two plates 80 are moved together by a mechanism to be described. The maximum diameter of the plate 80 is substantially equal to the inside diameter'of the margins of the blower wheel. The margin of the plate 80 is also bevelled, as clearly seen at 86, so that if the blower wheel is slightly out of shape, so that it is not in perfect cylindrical form, the bevelled margins will force the margin of the blower wheel into cylindrical formation.

Each plate 80 is fixedly secured by suitable bolts, not shown, to a member 90 provided with a cylindrical boss 92 seated on the end of the shaft 50 and keyed thereto by a key 94. Member 90 is mounted for axial movement upon the shaft 50. The collar 96, keyed to the shaft 50 by a key 98, provides an abutment for a compression spring 100 seated over the boss 92 and urging the member 90 and the parts carried thereby against a frustum-conical member 102 fixedly secured to the end of the shaft 50 by a bolt 104 threadedly engaging the end of the shaft. For convenience, the frustum-conical member will hereafter be referred to as a cone. Member 90, and the parts carried thereby including the plate 80, are always urged outwardly toward the end of the shaft. However, in the event a blade, or several blades, should be so badly deformed that they would not fall into the proper slots, the compression spring 100 will yield, permitting the plate 80 to move inwardly a slight distance on the shaft 50 against the force of the spring 100. It may readily be seen that the plate 80 is non-rotatably mounted with respect to the shaft 50.

Due to the fact that two layers of sheet metal are to be formed into a head, there being one bead on each margin of the blower wheel, a considerable force is required to form these margins into beads. Without adequate support, the forming of a bead on each margin could not be accomplished without a failure of the neck portion between the margins and the blades 24. Furthermore, the two stampings used in forming the two convolutions are identical, made on the same die. That being the case, the blower wheel is formed from the flat into the cylindrical formation. Either the inner convolution must buckle in part, or the outer convolution must stretch, in that the circumference of the inner convolution is slightly less than the circumference of the outer convolution. An expansion mechanism for stretching the margins so as to at least stretch the outer convolution, and in part both convolutions, and at the same time support the inner portions of the marginal strips of the blower wheel, will now be described.

A plurality of arcuate expansion members or sectors 110, best seen in Figures 12 and 13, (eight in number as shown in these particular figures, although the number may be varied), are each provided with a radially disposed stem 112 directed towards the center. Each of these stems is provided with a tapering end 114 and terminates in an inner arcuate seat 116. As best shown in Figures 8 and 9, member 90 is provided with a plurality of triangular projections 120, the space between each of the projections, together with the main body of the member 90, forming slots 122 in which the stems 112 are seated. The plate 80, which may be referred to as a back-up plate, is mounted in contact with the outer surface of the triangular projections 120, so that the triangular projections 120 on plate and the main body of member form passages, in which the stems 112 are seated. The dimensions have been so selected that the stems 112 may move radially within these passages; but cannot move laterally. The inner ends or arcuate seats 116 of the stems 112 are seated on the cone 102, so that as the shaft 50, as viewed in Figure 3, is actuated to the left, as viewed in this figure, the cone will force the arcuate sectors radially into en gagement with the inner margins of the marginal strips of the blower wheel. During the first movement of the shaft to the right by a drive mechanism, which will be described later, the ends of the blades of the blower wheel are positioned in the slots 82 in the plate 80. When the ends of the blower blades engage the bottom of the slots, further movement ofthe plate 80 is then arrested, compressing the spring 109, so as to cause a relative movement of the cone with respect to member 9% the plate 80 and the arcuate sectorsllt), thereby forcing the arcuate sectors outwardly. After the movement of the plate 80 has been arrested, the sectors are forcedoutwardly by the cone 102, which sectors are provided with comparatively narrow margins engaging the margins of the blower in close proximity to the necks of the blades 24, so as to expand the margin of the blower wheel. In actual practice, the expansion mechanism actually increases the diameter of the blower wheel approximately one-sixteenth inch The plate 80, member 90 and the arcuate sectors 110 function as a floating expansion head slidably mounted on the shaft 50. The movement of this expansion head, when the shaft 50 is actuated towards the blower wheel, is arrested by abutting the ends of the blades. Then, as the shaft continues its movement, the cone 192 expands the sectors into engagement with the rim of the wheel.

The shaft 50 is actuated by a pneumatic piston 132 mounted upon the upright extension 46 of the frame member 42 and drives the shaft 50 to the left, so as to cause the plate 80 to engage the blower blades and expanding the margin of members 110. After the beading operation, which will be described next, the pneumatic piston 132 withdraws the shaft and the parts carried thereby, to release the wheel.

The device for forming the beads on the margin includes a plurality of rollers 140 mounted upon pintles 142 supported by L-shaped brackets 144 mounted for radial adjustment on a circular disc 150. 'This disc 150 has been provided with facets supporting lugs 152 by means of bolts 154. Each of these lugs 152 is provided with an aperture through which extends the adjusting bolt 156, engaging the bracket 144, so that by adjusting the bolt 156, normally held in locked position by means of apairof lock nuts 158, the bracket 144 may be adjusted radially on the disc 150. When the bracket has been adjusted to the proper position so that the roller 140 is accurately positioned, the bracket is locked, in position by means of a screw 160 passing through a radial slot 161. The roller 1.40 is provided with a marginal groove "146 adapted to engage the marginal strips of the blower wheel, so that as the rollers 140 travel through a circular path and are advanced toward the wheel, a bead is formed. The disc 154) is mounted for rotation and fixedly attached to a collar 162 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 50. The collar 162 is fixedly attached to a gear 164, driven through a suitable pinion 166, driven by means of an electric motor that has not been shown. As the gear 164 rotates, the rollers 140 travel through a circular path.

The mechanism for actuating the rollers toward the margin of the blower wheel consists of a pneumatic cylinder 170 mounted upon the upright extension 46 and connected by a suitable link mechanism to a bracket 172 laterally movable by the piston rod 174. The end of the piston rod 174 is also connected through a suitable mechanism to a hydraulic check mechanism 180. This bydraulic check limits the rate of speed at which the pneumatic cylinder 170 may actuate the piston rod 174 and the parts actuated thereby. The rate of movement of the hydraulic check may be adjusted by means of adjustment 182. A transverse pin 184 connected to the piston rod 174 and the hydraulic check 180 passes through a bifurcated end of a lever -190 mounted upon a fixed pivot 192 and having the opposite bifurcated end 194 provided with pintles 196 seated in a groove 198 in-the tubular sleeve '60. It can readily be seen that as the pneumatic cylinder 170 is energized, so as to actuate the bracket 172 to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, the sleeve 60 is then actuated toward the left, the end of the sleeve 60 engaging the end thrust bearings 200 abutting the hub 204 of the gear 164. The gear 164 being slidably mounted upon the shaft 50, together with collar 162, the disc 1'50 and the bracket 144 actuate the rollers into engagement with the margin of the blower wheel, so as to form a bead thereon. The hydraulic check 180 controls the rate that the bead is formed. Only a few revolutions of the disc 150 and the rollers 140 carried thereby are required to form the'bead. It can readily be seen that while the head is forming, the blades 24 are accurately positioned and the opposite ends of the beading mechanism are so positioned that the plates 80 hold the blades in parallel relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blower wheel. Furthermore, while the head is being formed, the expansion members exert an outward thrust against the marginal strips of the blower wheel adjacent the blades, so as to cooperate with the blades in preventing distortion of the blades and the necks connecting the blades to the marginal strips of the blower wheel. 7

After the beading operation has been completed, the pneumatic cylinder .170 withdraws the roller mechanism from the beads of the blower wheel. The pneumatic piston 132 withdraws the cone so as to permit a garter spring 210 seated in an arcuate groove integral with the expansion members 110 to withdraw the expansion members out of contact with the blower wheel. As the shaft 50, is withdrawn, the plate 80 and the expansion membersare withdrawn from within the ends of the blower wheel, so as to permit the removal of theblower wheel. v

The shaft 50 and the parts carried thereby move the expansion mechanism and the plate 80 out of engagement with the blower wheel, so that the blower wheel, having 6 the completed beads upon both margins, may be removed. The rollers and the driving mechanism therefore operate in synchronism, the rollers on the right hand side of the blower wheel being aligned with the rollers on the left hand side of the blower wheel, so that when a force is exerted upon the right hand margin of the blower wheel, an equal and opposite force is exerted upon the left hand margin of the blower wheel;

By this device, a rigid blower wheel is produced that is concentric and lies in a true cylindrical surface.

. Although the device has been described as beading both margins of the blower wheel simultaneously, the apparatus disclosed herein may be used to bead only one margin. This would be the case especially in the event the center disc is eliminated and the blower wheel is supported from the margin opposite the bead.

Furthermore, this device may, for some purposes, be used without the plate spacing and positioning the ends of the blades. The expanding sectors may be used either with or without the blade spacing plate for forming beads by a beading mechanism other than the particular roller arrangement that has been shown in the embodiment disclosed herein.

As far as the heading operation is concerned, it is immaterial whether the rollers travel through a circular path or the blower wheel, together with the expansion mechanism, et cetera, is rotated. For the beading operation it is only necessary to have a relative rotary movement between the beading mechanism and the blower wheel when utilizing the rollers. In the event a curling die is used, it may not be necessary to have a relative rotary movement, in that the curing die would form the beads on the margin of the blower wheel.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in .the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A machine for forming curled beads on the margins of a blower wheel having a plurality of equally spaced arcuate blades integral with marginal rims, one on each end of the blades, said marginal rims projecting axially and outwardly from the ends of the blades, said machine including a pair of blade positioning plates, one for each end of the blower wheel, said plates having a plurality of marginally disposed bevelled notches, one for each of the blades, axially movable means for supporting said plates, said means when moved axially and outwardly acting to spread the plates to clear the marginal rims of the blower wheel and when moved axially inwardly after the blower wheel has been inserted moving the plates toward each other so as to project the ends of the blades into the notches, a plurality of expansion sectors abutting the said plates on the side opposite the notches, means for expanding said sectors so as to force the sectors outwardly into contact with the inner margins of the rims, and means having an axial movement supporting a plurality of rollers rotatablymounted, said rollers having grooves engaging the outer margins of the rims to form beads thereon.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for expanding the sectors includes a cone engaging the sectors to move the sec-tors outwardly as the cone is moved longitudinally along the center axis of the blower wheel.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the sectors includes a marginal arcuate portion supported upon an inwardly directed stem and wherein the means for expanding the sectors engages the inner ends of the stems to move the sectors outwardly.

-4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the sectors is provided with an arcuate groove having a radius of curvature concentric with the radius of curvature of the arcuate portion, said groove supporting a garter spring 'held in tension to withdraw the sectors whenever the expanding means releases'the force on the sectors.

5. A machine forforminga curled bead on the margin of a blower wheel having a plurality of equally spaced arcuate blades integral with marginal rims, said machine including a blade positioning plate, said plate having a pluralityof marginal arcuate slots directed inwardly, one

for each of the blades, means for adjusting the plate axially to permit insertion and removal of the blower wheel when the plate is moved away from the blower wheel, a plurality of expansion sectors abutting the plate on the side opposite the notches, means for expanding said sectors so as to force the sectors outwardly into contact with the inner margins of the rims, and means having axial movement supporting a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted, said rollers having grooves engaging the outer margin of the rim of the blower wheel to form a bead thereon.

6. A machine for forming a curled bead on the margin of a blower wheel having a plurality of equally'spaced arcuate blades integral with marginal rims, said machine including a blade positioning plate, said plate having a plurality of marginal arcuate slots directed inwardly, one foreach of the blades, means for moving saidplate'axially toward and'away from the blower wheel, the'plate being located beyond the margins of the blower 'wheel when moved axially from the blower wheel to permit insertion and removal of the blower wheel, said means moving the plate toward the ends of the blades, which blades project into the notches of the plate, a pluralityof expansion sectors abutting the plate on the side opposite the notches, means for expanding said sectors so as to force-the sectors outwardly into contact with the rims, and means having an axial movement into engagement with the outer margin of the rimto form a bead thereon.

7. In a machine for producing a curled bead on the rim of a cylindrical blower wheel having radially projecting blower blades, the combination comprising a frame, a non-rotatable shaft mounted for axial movement in said frame, said shaft being aligned with the axis of'the blower wheel and terminating in a frustum-conical portion having a shoulder, a floating expansible head mounted for axial movement on said shaft without angular movement with respectthereto, means for urging the head towards the blower wheel, means for limiting the movement of said expansible head on said shaft, means for supporting one end of the blower wheel, means for adjusting the shaft axially towards the other end of the blower wheel, the expansible head moving with the shaft until the expansible head is arrested by abutting the ends of the blades, the shaft as it continues its axial movement moving the frustum-conical portion to expand the expansible head into engagement with the inner periphery of the rim of said blower wheel to center the rim of the blower wheel and to force any out-of-round portion thereof into cylindrical form, and rotary means supported between the expansible head and the frame for curling the margin of the blower wheel into a bead.

8. In a machine for producing a curled bead on the end of a cylindrical sheet metal member having radially projecting portions adjacent the end thereof, the combination comprising a frame, a non-rotatable shaft mounted for axial movement in said frame, a frustum-conical member mounted on said shaft, a floating expansible head non-rotatably mounted for axial movement on said shaft, and a pair of abutment means mounted on said shaft limiting the axial movements of said expansible head, resilient means for biasing the head towards the cylindrical sheet metal member, means for supporting one end of the cylindrical sheet metal member, means for adjusting the shaft axially towards the other end of the cylindrical sheet metal member, the expansible head moving with the shaft until the head is arrested by abutting the radially projecting portions, the shaft as it continues its axial movement actuating the frustum-conical member to expand the expansible head into engagement with the inner periphery-of-said'cylindrical sheet metal member to center the cylindrical sheet metal member and to force any outof-round portion-of the cylindrical sheet metal member into-cylindrical form, and rotary means mounted upon the shaft bet-ween the head and the frame for curling the margin "of the-cylindrical sheet metal member into a bead.

9. In a machine 'for producing a curled bead on the end of a-cylindrical sheet metal member having radially projecting portions adjacentthe end thereof, the combination comprising a'frame, a shaftmounted for axial movement in said frame, expanding means mounted on said shaft, a floating expansible head assembly mounted for axial movement on said shaft-without angular movement with respect to said shaft, and a pair of abutment means mounted on said shaft limiting the axial movement of said head assembly, resilient means for biasing the head assembly towards said cylindrical sheet metal member, means for supporting the one end of the cylindrical sheet metal member, means for adjusting the shaft axially towards the other end of the cylindrical sheet metal member, said head assembly moving with said shaft until the head assembly abuts the radially projecting portions, the shaft as it continues its axial movement actuating the expanding means into engagement with the head assembly to expand the same into engagement with the inner periphery of said cylindrical sheet metal member to center the cylindrical sheet metal member and force any out-ofround portion of the cylindrical sheet metal member into 'cylindrical form, a tubular shaft mounted upon said first mentioned shaft and between the head assembly and the frame, curling means mounted upon said tubular shaft for curling the margin of the cylindrical sheet metal member into a bead, and driving means for driving one of said shafts with respect to the other during the curling operation.

10. In a machine for producing a curled bead according to claim 8, wherein fluid actuated means actuates the first mentioned shaft axially.

11. In a machine for producing a curled head on the end of a cylindrical sheet metal member according to claim 9, wherein the driving means drives the tubular shaft and the curling means.

12. In a machine for producing a curled bead on both ends of a blower wheel having a plurality of equally spaced arcuate blades connected to substantially cylindrical marginal rims, the blades projecting in a general radial direction, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of wheel supporting and beading mechanisms mounted in said frame and axially aligned with the opposite ends of said blower wheel, each of said mechanism comprising a non-rotatable shaft mounted for axial movement in said frame; expanding means mounted on said shaft, a floating expansible head assembly non-rotatably mounted for axial movement on said shaft, and a pair of abutment means mounted on said shaft limiting the axial movements of said head assembly, resilient means for biasing the head assembly towards the blower wheel; means for adjusting the shafts axially towards each other and thereby advancing the head assemblies until the head assemblies are arrested by abutting the ends of the blades, the expanding means expanding the expansible head assemblies as the shafts continue their axial movement towards each other to expand the head assemblies into engagement with the periphery of the rims of said blower wheel to center the blower wheel and to force .any outof-round portion of the rims into cylindrical form; a pair of rotary curling means one for each shaft, said rotary curling means being mounted between the head of its shaft and the frame for curling the margin of the sheet metal member into ahead; and driving means for driving the rotary curling means in synchronism.

13. In a machine for producing a curled bead on both ends of a blower wheel having a plurality of equally spaced arcuate blades connected to substantially cylindrical marginal rims, the blades projecting in a general radial direction, the combination comprising a frame, a pair of shafts mounted for axial movement in said frame, a frustumconical member mounted on the end of each shaft, a pair of expansible heads, said heads being mounted for axial movement on each of said shafts without angular movement with respect thereto, means for limiting the movement of the expansible heads on said shafts, resilient means for biasing the heads towards the blower wheel, means for adjusting said shafts axially towards each other and thereby advancing the expansible heads until the heads are arrested by abutting the ends of the blades, the shafts as they continue their movement towards each other driving the frustum-conical members into engagement with the expansible heads to expand the heads into engagement with the inner periphery of the rims of the blower wheel to center the blower wheel and to force any out-of-round portion of the rims into cylindrical form, a pair of tubular shafts mounted upon the first mentioned shafts, one for each of the first mentioned shafts, a pair of beading means mounted upon said tubular shafts, said tubular shafts being mounted for axial movement to advance the beading means into engagement with the rims, means in the frame for preventing rotation of one of the shafts located on each end of the blower wheel, means for rotating the other shaft opposite each end of the blower wheel so as to cause a relative rotary movement between the shafts on each end of the blower wheel and the parts supported thereby, and means for advancing the heading means towards the ends of the blower wheel during the curling of the beads.

14. In a machine for producing a curled bead on both ends of a blower wheel having a plurality of equally spaced arcuate blades connected to substantially cylindrical marginal rims, the combination comprising a frame; a pair of wheel supporting and beading mechanisms mounted in said frame and axially aligned with the opposite ends of said blower wheel, each of said mechanisms comprising a non-rotatable shaft mounted for axial movement in said frame, a floating expansible head assembly mounted for axial movement on said shaft without angular movement with respect thereto, means for limiting the movement of said expansible head assembly on said shaft, resilient means for biasing the expansible head assembly towards the blower wheel, means on said shaft for expanding the expansible head assembly; means for adjusting the shafts axially towards each other and thereby advancing the expansible head assemblies until the expansible head assemblies are arrested by abutting the ends of the blades, the shafts as they continue their axial movement towards each other advancing the expanding means to expand the expansible head assemblies into engagement with the periphery of the rims of said blower wheel to center the blower wheel and to force any out-ofround portion of the rims into cylindrical form; a pair of tubular shafts mounted on said first mentioned shafts, one for each shaft; curling means mounted on said tubular shafts; and driving means for driving one of said shafts on one end of the blower wheel and for driving the corresponding shaft on the other end of the blower wheel, said driven shafts rotating in the same direction; and means for advancing the curling means into engagement with the rims of the blower wheelwhen the shafts are driven.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,396 James Aug. 31, 1886 620,398 Zeh Feb. 28, 1899 1,038,110 Foss Sept. 10, 1912 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0 2 89? 873 August 4 1959 Robert A. Mayne It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

Column 1, lines 17 and 18, for "necessary" read necessarLy col-um 6, line 32, for "curing" read c'urling Signed and sealed this 16th day of February 1960,

SEAL) Attest:

KARL E AXLINE Attesting Officer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

